WWTBAM Bored

Olga Lepeshinskaya, who died in Moscow on December 20 aged 92, was the Bolshoi Ballet's prima ballerina in the 1930s and 1940s and Josef Stalin's favourite performer

Because of her virtuosity and prettiness, Olga Lepeshinskaya's short, muscular body was forgiven.

Olga Lepeshinskaya's position as Stalin's darling saw her performing inside the Kremlin at banquets of great luxury. In a recent interview she recalled his whispering to her that she should not dance in a tutu but in something lighter, "between friends". From then on she ensured she was lightly dressed when invited by him.

In old age, Olga Lepeshinskaya looked back on Stalin more critically, describing him as "a vindictive and bad man, like all orientals".